“The son of the late Sir James Henare and father of Tamaki Makarau MP Peeni Henare, Erima Henare was a prominent leader in the Maori world whose knowledge, language and humour will be impossible to replace,” says Kelvin Davis Labour’s MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

“All the tribes of Te Tai Tokerau, in particular Ngati Hine, and across the country mourn the loss of a great man. The Labour Party sends its condolences to his whanau and hapu.

“Mr Henare was the head of the Maori Language Commission, an advisor to the Maori King, and a respected authority on the ancient and modern history, reo and tikanga of Te Tai Tokerau. He was the executive director of Maori at Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, a member of the Waitangi National Trust Board and a Maori cultural adviser to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

“A star from the constellation of Matariki has faded,” says Kelvin Davis.